The Second BRICS International Competition Conference Concludes in Beijing
On September 22, the Second BRICS International Competition Conference concluded with successfully completed agendas. During the two-day conference, Beijing Consensus was signed and extensive exchange of various forms was carried out, which has deepened understanding, reached consensus, facilitated cooperation, enhanced friendship and generated sound response.
Zhou Bohua, Minister of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), Igor Artemyev, Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of the Russian Federation, Fernando Furlan, President of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) of Brazil, Harish Chandra Gupta, Officiating Chairperson of Competition Commission of India, Miranshan Ramburuth, Commissioner of Competition Commission, South Africa, Vice Ministers of SAIC including Liu Yuting, Fu Shuangjian, Gan Lin, Wang Dongfeng and Zhong Youping, He Xin, Inspector General of SAIC, officials from relevant departments of state organs and other delegates to the conference attended the closing ceremony. Zhong Youping made a concluding remark. Harish Chandra Gupta, on behalf of the organizer of the next BRICS International Competition Conference, also delivered a speech.
With great importance attached by the Chinese government, well-designed preparations by SAIC and active support from the competition authorities of other BRICS countries and related countries and regions, the conference successfully concluded and all anticipated goals have been fulfilled.
The Chinese government has attached great importance to the conference. Vice Premier Wang Qishan, also Chairman of the State Council’s Anti-monopoly Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech. He stressed that as an important force of the global economy the BRICS countries should thoroughly implement Sanya Declaration and the Action Plan of the Third BRICS Leaders Meeting, fully take advantage of the BRICS International Competition Conference as a platform to communicate closely and further strengthen the cooperation among all countries and international organizations in the field of competition enforcement.
During the conference, heads of the competition authorities of the BRICS countries have conducted honest and in-depth discussion on strengthening cooperation of competition authorities of the BRICS countries. They have reached extensive consensus and signed Beijing Consensus, which confirms that the BRICS International Competition Conference is an important platform for the competition authorities of the five countries to carry out dialogue and cooperation on competition policies. It also pointed out that addressing the brunt of the global financial crisis and facilitating the long-term rapid and steady economic development is a common task facing all the BRICS countries. The signature of Beijing Consensus has further advanced the cooperation mechanism of the BRICS countries based on the Joint Communiqué signed on the First BRIC International Competition Conference. The competition authorities of China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa express support for the Indian competition authority to organize the Third BRICS International Competition Conference in 2013.
During the event, Zhou Bohua, Minister of SAIC and Vice Chairman of the State Council’s Anti-monopoly Committee, has met with the heads of the competition authorities of Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa respectively, held talks about bilateral cooperation and other issues of common concern. Memorandum of Understanding between the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (Russian Federation) for the Implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Fields of Countering Unfair Competition and Antimonopoly Policy (2012-2013) was signed as a result. Several mutual talks have also been held among the competition authorities of Russia, Brazil, India and South Africa, bringing the role of the BRICS International Competition Conference as a platform into full play.
The heads of the competition authorities of the BRICS countries introduced the latest development and implementation of competition laws and policies in their countries. Over 30 distinguished guests made speeches centering on nine topics: “Experience of Prohibiting Abusive Behaviors under Economic Globalization Context”, “Experience of Cartel Control and Criminalization under Economic Globalization Context”, “Large Transnational Mergers – Better Rules and Enforcement Practice”, “IPR Protection and Antimonopoly Enforcement”, “Trade Barrier and Antimonopoly Enforcement”, “Antimonopoly Control over Natural Monopoly Industry”, “The Coordination between Competition Policy and Industrial Policy”, “Competition Enforcement Capacity Building and Competition Advocacy”, and “International Cooperation Experience on Preventing Monopolistic Behaviors”. Participants carried out in-depth and extensive discussion on issues of common concern. All these efforts have deepened the mutual
understanding among all the countries of competition legislation, competition enforcement and other related issues. The conference has received enthusiastic response from the global competition community. In addition to the participants from the hosting competition authorities of the BRICS countries, representatives of 55 institutions from 42 countries, regions and international organizations, attended the event. Participants from China include leading officials with member authorities of the State Council’s Anti-monopoly Committee of China such as SAIC, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Commerce; officials with the Law Committee of the National People's Congress and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant ministries; leading officials with the departments and other units directly under the SAIC; the director-generals, as well as directors for competition enforcement operation, of the industrial and commercial administration bureaus of 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and 15 sub-provincial cities of China; and Chinese experts and scholars in competition law and policy.
In the fundamental principles of openness, solidarity and mutual help, the conference was committed to promoting cooperation among BRICS competition authorities in a positive and pragmatical manner. Many representatives pointed out that the competition authorities of the BRICS countries have been fully prepared to carry out closer cooperation and communicate on issues of common interest. Against the background that global economic recovery still faces grim challenges, competition authorities should strengthen cooperation, further opening to each other, crack down on protectionism of various forms, eliminate barriers for trade and investment, with their focus on the goals of a powerful economy and sustainable and balanced growth, which is of important significance for facilitating fair competition in international markets and promoting the free flow and optimized deployment of all kinds of factors of production.
This conference is a platform not only to communicate, learn from each other and carry out cooperation but also to strengthen understanding and enhance friendship. Two days of communication has facilitated the understanding between different countries and regions as well as established and solidified mutual friendship, laying a great foundation for future cooperation.
The participants think highly of the preparation effort for the conference. Many of them said the conference has been fully and considerately prepared, while all activities have been arranged in an orderly way. With the conference as a window, all the representatives have a glimpse of the rapid development of China and feel the enthusiasm and friendliness of Chinese people.
